The most contentious part of the meeting involved a heated exchange over the curriculum regarding September 11th. A parent, Rebecca Bradley, voiced her dissatisfaction with the current teaching methods, noting the absence of critical terms such as “Osama Bin Laden,” “Al-Qaeda,” and “terrorist” in her daughter’s lessons. Bradley argued that omitting such details does a disservice to students, stating, “You cannot ignore the facts of history because they are inconvenient; that is disrespectful, that is disgraceful.”

In response, a board member shared a personal reflection on the events of September 11th. According to the board member, teachers were given a general framework to follow, not strict limitations. They suggested, “I think he was trying to say if you choose to teach about 9/11, we will follow this lesson plan,” indicating the intention was to provide structured guidance rather than censoring content.

Another board member emphasized the necessity of age-appropriate discussions, noting, “You wouldn’t have a second grader looking at some of the video clips,” and highlighted various memorial activities held in schools.

Further into the meeting, the board discussed creating a standardized curriculum to address controversial topics, which would offer clear guidelines for educators. The need for such a curriculum was highlighted by public concerns and the board’s recognition of the complexities involved in teaching about significant historical events.

The meeting also addressed staffing challenges for before and aftercare programs, with a board member acknowledging difficulties in hiring qualified staff, stating, “we’re having a hard time hiring people… the hiring pool is dry.” This issue was compounded by concerns from the public about long waiting lists for these services. One resident, George Ball, expressed frustration over the high demand and suggested partnering with local organizations like the YMCA or William Paterson University to expand care options. He emphasized the impact on his family’s routine, stating, “I kind of need to know where I stand because it does affect our work schedule.”

In the Human Resources section, an emergent item was introduced to revise the daily permanent substitute rate from $140 to $175. Additionally, there was a par professional transfer from Pines Lake to Randle Carter.

The finance committee provided updates on various items, including contracts for the upcoming school year, transportation agreements, and a withdrawal from the maintenance reserve for sewer line repairs at Lafayette School. They also discussed a donation from the JFK PTO and noted that the annual audit was taking place.

The technology committee addressed ongoing issues with network slowness and planned to alter a firewall to monitor the situation. They reported a smooth transition from Google Classroom to the Canvas learning management system for high school students. However, they faced challenges providing loaner devices during the summer due to availability issues.

Reports on advanced placement (AP) exam results highlighted a notable improvement in student performance, with 512 students participating in AP exams, leading to 1,169 tests taken. An impressive 86% of students scored a three or higher, with 58% achieving a four or five.

The board also approved a resolution to proclaim September 17 through 23, 2024, as Constitution Week, recognizing the 237th anniversary of the drafting of the United States Constitution. This aligns with Public Law 99-15, which mandates such recognition annually.

A former educator shared personal experiences from September 11, 2001, to underscore the importance of engaging in discussions about difficult topics within the classroom. They suggested forming a committee to address ongoing community concerns systematically. This proposal was supported by another board member who affirmed the need for proactive measures rather than reactive responses to community issues.